(TOWNSHIP OF PERTH EAST, ON) – On Sunday December 4, 2016 at 3:30 a.m. members of the Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) were notified by a resident that a Dodge Ram pickup truck had been stolen from a rural residence on Perth Road 130. The owner had attempted to follow the motor vehicle, but lost sight of it.

Perth County OPP officers observed the vehicle shortly after near the intersection of Perth Road 131 and Highway 86. The vehicle appeared to be travelling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle crossed Highway 86 and entered Wellington County. Officers located the motor vehicle after it became stuck in the ditch near Perth Road 140 and line 87. Both occupants of the vehicle fled into a field when officers approached.

Specialized OPP units, K9 and Emergency Response Team (ERT), attended the scene. The two males were located and arrested. Both were lodged and held at the Sebringville OPP detachment for a bail hearing.

Travis WAND 22-years-old from Palmerston is charged with flight while being pursued by a peace officer and theft of motor vehicle under Criminal Code of Canada. Steven WALSOM-GERIGS 26-years-old from Stratford is charged with theft of motor vehicle and fail to comply with probation under the Criminal Code of Canada.

Both were released from custody at the bail hearing and are to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford on December 12, 2016.

Vehicle owners are urged to remove their keys and lock their motor vehicles in an effort to deter these crimes of opportunity.

From the archive: Stolen Vehicle Recovered – Travis Wand, Dustin Lunz and Two Minors Charged

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